“We’d love to see him remain a passer first, and I think it’s going to come with more experience, honestly. When I can go extend it to throw it, when, ‘Hey, this plays over, I’ll get rid of it and move on to the next play.’ So, I think you’ll see that trajectory continue as we go. Certainly, 18 (16) carries is not the model that we’re looking for, certainly with Brian and Austin and others here. But at the end of it, I do think we’ll continue to grow in that spot. But certainly not by design to have that many.”
While it’s fair to have criticism of the offense as Daniels practically had to move the football all by himself, the deeper flaw may be the Commanders’ defense, which allowed Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to all have their way.
Dan Quinn needs the Commanders’ defense to step up
Quinn’s background includes head coaching and defensive coordinator work. He’s had DC stints with the Dallas Cowboys (2021-2023) and Seattle Seahawks (2013-2014), as well as various defensive coaching stops starting in 1994. In each season with the Cowboys, his defenses lead the league in forced turnovers.
You wouldn’t have seen that against the Buccaneers in Week 1 as Baker Mayfield was close to perfection, completing 24-of-30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. While the Cowboys did force eight tackles for loss, the Bucs kept converting chunk play after chunk play. Bucky Irving, Rashaad White, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Godwin and Evans had one or more plays gain at least 15 yards.
The Commanders will try to course correct in Week 2 when they host the New York Giants on Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m. EST.
